US and Russia "vying for influence over Serbia"
Moscow's confirmation that it was considering delivering S-300 missile systems to Serbia - only 48 hours after Aleksandar Vucic left the US - is no coincidence.
The Belgrade daily Vecernje Novosti writes this on Friday, noting that the S-300 acquisition has been discussed with the Russians in the past, and was "nothing new."
Serbian media reported about the meeting between the Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabic and the Ambassador of the Republic of India, Narinder Chauhan, focused on further development of the economic co-operation and support of India regarding the Kosovo issue.
During the meeting, Indian Ambassador highlighted that India opposes membership of Pristina in international organizations.
Declaration issued by the Italian chair on July 12, 2017
In the framework of the Western Balkans Process, Italy welcomed in Trieste on 12th July 2017 the Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and the Ministers of Economy of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, as well as Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Slovenia, United Kingdom and representatives of the European Union and the International Financial Institutions. Western Balkans Ministers of Transport also met together with Italian and EU Institutions.
European Commissioner For Regional Policy & Enlargement Johannes Hahn told CorD that the pace of negotiations depends on the progress countries make in implementing the necessary reforms.
-Quality goes before speed, but I always say that it is good to be ambitious. The Berlin Process serves to drive that reform programme forward, always with a view to strengthening each country’s preparations to meet their European Integration ambitions, said Hahn to CorD Magazine, published monthly in Belgrade.
Maja Kocijancic, EU's Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations told Serbian news agency Tanjug that the speed and date of Serbia’s joining the EU depends mainly on Serbia’s progress on implementation of reforms and normalization of the relations with Kosovo. She added that the EU will be working with Serbia for a stronger and faster process of membership. “The EU is strongly engaged on Serbia’s strategic objective of EU membership.
If Serbia is forced to choose between closer ties with Russia and joining the European Union, it will side with the latter, the country’s new prime minister said. Ana Brnabic said she’d continue a path started by her predecessor, President Aleksandar Vucic, to make the country ready for EU membership by the time her term ends in 2020. Eastern Europe’s first openly gay woman to lead a government, she was handpicked by Vucic to replace him after he won an April vote.
Daily newspaper Večernje Novosti today writes that possible series of talks on changing the Constitution of Serbia, announced by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, could begin already in autumn.
Vučić spoke on several occasions about the necessity of the dialogue on the highest legal act, and that he intends to come to a consensus on this issue, although he can provide a two-thirds majority in the Assembly.
The President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci requested from the entire political specter in Kosovo to leave aside political and party divisions, in order to support discussions between Kosovo and Serbia on normalization of relations.
In an interview given to RTK from Brussels, Thaci said that Kosovo’s only way for integration is that of dialogue and integration, and within this segment, he said, there should not be political divergences.
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic says that his country will maintain its "the road toward the EU" foreign policy course.
Speaking a day after Serbia's new government was elected, he said the EU integration was being carried out "for the sake of citizens, not for EU's sake."
The minister took part in the opening of a conference dubbed "Multi-speed Europe - Western Balkans in reverse" via a video message, and said that the new government will keep the priorities of the previous one.
In an interview NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg gave to Blic daily yesterday, topics such as depleted uranium, Kosovo army, and communities’ acceptance of the army were touched upon.
Asked to comment on lawsuits by 300 Italian soldiers suing NATO because they suffered from incurable diseases after their service in Kosovo that was bombed with depleted uranium, NATO SG stated that NATO is in Kosovo to help stabilize the region and avoid violence and unrests.